Tokyo,  (ANTARA News/AFP) - Japan`s two major airlines said Sunday they are organising extraordinary flights from Thailand`s U-Tapao military airbase near Pattaya to bring back tourists stranded by mass protests.

The special flights are due to the temporary closure of Bangkok`s  Suvarnabhumi international airport caused by the political protests.

Asia`s biggest airline Japan Airlines (JAL) said it has arranged two extraordinary flights from U-Tapao to Japan.

"A flight to Tokyo`s Narita International Airport and another to Osaka`s Kansai International Airport have safely arrived," a JAL spokesman said.

JAL`s rival All Nippon Airways (ANA) said it is also arranging
extraordinary flights from Thailand to Japan but that those flights for Sunday and Monday were already fully booked.

The airlines are closely watching the situation in Bangkok to see if they need to arrange more extraordinary flights amid possible further flight cancellations on Monday, airline officials said.(*)